Nora Sarah Ann (O'Connor) McKinnon
Born In: New Brunswick
Born: August 8th, 1916
Passed on: February 25th, 2013
It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our dear mother, Nora Sarah Ann (O’Connor) McKinnon. Mom passed away Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, at her home, with her loving family by her side.
Born in Jacquett River, N.B., on Aug. 8, 1916, she was the second oldest child of the Late Daniel and Sara (Doucette) O’Connor.
She moved to Sydney Mines with her family at 21 years of age. Mom was always a lady of adventure, as a young woman, she moved to Montreal and worked as a housekeeper. She moved back to Cape Breton to begin a career in hairdressing. After graduation, she worked for a year in New Waterford, returning to Sydney Mines to start her own business O’Connor’s Beauty Salon, which she operated for the next 45 years.
She was a member of St. Joseph parish, Bras d’Or, and could be seen every Saturday evening at Alder Point mass celebrating her strong faith.
Over the years, Mom travelled extensively, across Canada, Europe, the Holy Land and her last big trip was to Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, at the age of 86.
Mom always had a love of “messing in the dirt” spending countless hours digging in her flower garden, planting, transplanting and sharing her transplants with her friends and family. In the winter she would take her plants indoors and tend to them until it was time for them to be planted again.
Family was very important. Mom opened her door to everyone. Special memories are held by her children, grandchildren and their friends of endless hours spent playing upstairs in her attic.
Mom looked forward to her family reunions every five years, out at the beach surrounded by loved ones and the new generations of the O’Connor family.
Mom was an integral part of our lives. Never a day would go by that we did not experience the deep love she had for us. She was just as involved with her grandchildren’s activities as she was with her own children. She was their greatest fan, never missing a dance recital, hockey, basketball or baseball game; she was once voted No. 1 fan for her dedication to the team.
Nora is survived by her husband of 61 years, Archie MacKinnon; their four children, Cathy (Anthony) Laffin, J.D. (Alexis), Patricia (Bryce) Swan, Ella Mae (Gary) Voutier, all of Alder Point. Left to mourn “Nanny Boo” are seven grandchildren, Heather (D.A.) March, Halifax; Tony Laffin, Montreal, Que.; Laura (Adam) Power, Anne Marie Swan (Ryan Hawbolt), Bryce Swan, Kimberly Swan, all of Bras d’Or; Greg MacKinnon (Bonnie Jean Devoe), Fort MacMurray, Alta.; her two great-grandchildren, Cate and Avery Power.
Nora is survived by her sisters, Mona MacEachern and Marie Vince, Surrey, B.C., Inez Madinsky, Port Coquitlam, B.C.; brothers, Donald (Mary), Truro, Edmund (Elaine), Halifax, Emmett (Mae), Sydney Mines, Dan, Ottawa, Ont., John (Marilyn), Florence; she is also survived by sisters-in-law, Mae O’Connor, Sydney Mines, Cecilia (Edmund) Gora, California; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by a daughter in infancy, her brothers, Cosmos and Frank, sisters, Margaret and Mary, brothers-in-law, Don MacEachern, Stan Vince, Don Madinsky and Tom Murphy, and sister-in-law, Eileen O’Connor.
She will also be missed by family friends, Derrick, Lawrence and Kevin Devoe, who Mom always considered to be a part of the family.
There will be no visitation. Mass of Christian Burial will take place Friday, March 1 at St. Anne parish, Alder Point, at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Peter McLeod officiating. Interment will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery, Bras d’Or, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Nora’s memory may be made to the Canadian Red Cross bed program or a charity of choice.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of Francis Funeral Home.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to d.francis@ns.sympatico.ca.
